air fryer Cashew Chicken

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Recipe Intensity: Moderate

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 cup cashews
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional garnish: chopped green onions, sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, honey (or brown sugar), minced garlic, and grated ginger to make the marinade.
2. Add the chicken pieces to the marinade, making sure they are well coated. Cover the bowl and let the chicken marinate for at least 15 minutes in the refrigerator.
3. In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water to make a slurry. Set it aside.
4. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3-5 minutes.
5. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken pieces (reserve the marinade) and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
6. In the same skillet, add the cashews and toast them for 1-2 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Remove the cashews from the skillet and set them aside.
7. Pour the reserved marinade into the skillet and bring it to a simmer. Cook for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
8. Add the cooked chicken and toasted cashews back to the skillet with the thickened sauce. Stir well to coat everything evenly.
9. Transfer the chicken and cashew mixture to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
10. Air fry the cashew chicken at 400°F (200°C) for about 5-7 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the chicken is crispy and the sauce is caramelized.
11. Once done, remove the cashew chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes.
12. Serve the air fryer cashew chicken hot, garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

Enjoy your flavorful and crispy air fryer cashew chicken!